First Batch of Mid-career Executives Enter the Nursing Profession

26 Jul 2005

The Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme (SMCP) for Healthcare, an initiative by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), has seen the first batch of 49 mid-career executives join the healthcare industry as Registered Nurses.

The 49 newly-graduated nurses, who joined a two-year Accelerated Diploma Programme in Nursing in April 2003, receive their diplomas at the Nanyang Polytechnic Graduation Ceremony for the School of Health Sciences on 26 July 2005, together with 1043 other healthcare graduates. Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower and the Second Minister for Defence, was the Guest-of-Honour.

Coming from varied backgrounds such as engineering, architecture, and teaching, these new graduate nurses bring with them diverse experience and expertise.  Amongst the group, 22 are above 35 years old.  "Making the switch to nursing at age 36 after building a 12-year career in administration seemed daunting.  However, I overcame the initial fears and today, I am proud to receive the nursing diploma and begin a new career that I have always wanted to pursue," says new graduate Ms Wong Yoke Ping who is with Changi General Hospital. 

"As economic restructuring gather pace, we will need more mid-career entrants like the 49 graduates, all of whom took bold steps to move to new industries and pick up new skills.  WDA is happy to have helped them in this transition, but the most credit goes to the graduates," says Mr Ong Ye Kung, Chief Executive, WDA.

Hospitals welcome these new additions to the healthcare community. Says Dr Lim Suet Wun, Chief Executive Officer, National Healthcare Group, "Recruiting and retaining nurses are never easy. SMCP Healthcare is an alternative channel for hospitals to recruit capable local nurses. Our SMCP nurses have shown maturity, commitment and a strong desire to do their part for patients. They also bring with them rich multi-industry experiences that benefit the organisation."

Nanyang Polytechnic, which condensed its regular three-year programme into two years to meet the needs of these mid-career executives, is pleased with their new graduates. Says Mrs Long Chooi Fong, Director of the School of Health Sciences at Nanyang Polytechnic, "The motivation and learning attitude displayed by this group have certainly impressed us. We are confident that their unique experiences and enthusiasm will contribute greatly to the healthcare sector."

Supported by the Ministry of Health, SMCP Healthcare makes a career switch to nursing more attractive to applicants:

- Its "Place and Train" approach, where hospitals recruit interested job seekers before sending them for training, guarantees the latter employment after completion of training.

- Training is fully-funded by WDA and hospitals. Trainees also receive an allowance during their training.

- The accelerated programme means that SMCP participants graduate in 2 years compared to 3 years for the regular programme.

A list of Frequently-Asked Questions on SMCP for Healthcare (Nursing) is found below.

ANNEX

Frequently-Asked Questions on The Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme (SMCP) For The Healthcare Sector (Nursing)

1. What are the objectives of the SMCP for Healthcare (Nursing)?

The SMCP for Healthcare (Nursing), now in its fifth run, is targeted at increasing the pool of healthcare manpower by assisting non-healthcare trained Singaporeans who are keen to work in the healthcare sector to acquire relevant training and embark on long-term professional healthcare careers. The programme meets WDA's objective of helping mid-careers transit to new and growing industries to remain employable.

2. How does it work?

Hospitals recruit interested professionals and executives before sending them for professional training under Nanyang Polytechnic's two-year diploma programme in Nursing (Accelerated).  This approach guarantees the trainees employment after they complete their training.  The trainees are fully funded by WDA and hospitals, and they receive an allowance during their training.  WDA is the lead agency coordinating the recruitment of these mid-careers trainees.

3. Who is eligible?

Only Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents are eligible. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Academic Criterion

- Degree graduates from reputable universities; or 

- Diploma graduates from local polytechnics only

Work Experience Criterion

- Not be holding nursing or health sciences positions; 

- At the point of application, not be holding healthcare qualifications similar to the training sought; and

- Have a minimum of two years full-time working experience, excluding national service

4. How much is the funding support?

- Course Fee Support

Trainees receive 100% course fee support.  WDA provides 50% of course fee or $4,000, whichever is lower. Healthcare institutions co-sponsor the balance of the course fee payable.

- Training Allowance

Trainees receive up to $950 per month during the first year of training and $1,000 per month during the second year of training.  WDA provides up to 50% of the trainees' last drawn salary or S$800 per month, whichever is lower.  Healthcare institutions co-sponsor the balance of the training allowance payable.

- Wage Support

WDA provides recruiting healthcare institutions 50% of salary, or $800 per month per candidate, whichever is lower, for the first three months of employment after graduation.

5. Who are the recruiting hospitals/ healthcare institutions?

National Healthcare Group: Alexandra Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

SingHealth: Singapore General Hospital, Changi General Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, National Heart Centre

Private Hospitals: Mount Alvernia Hospital, Raffles Hospital

Community Hospitals: Ang Mo Kio Hospital, Bright Vision Hospital, St Andrew's Community Hospital, St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly

6. How many intakes have there been so far?

There have been a total of five intakes since April 2003, comprising a total of 336 sponsored trainees. 49 have gradated while 287 from four other batches are currently undergoing training.

7. When is the next intake?

The next intake is in Jan 2006. All applications must be submitted online to WDA (www.wda.gov.sg) by Fri, 19 Aug 2005, 5pm.  A Career Preview will be held on Sat, 6 Aug 2005 (9.30 am - 1 pm) for those interested to join the nursing profession and the SMCP (Healthcare).

The venue of the Career Preview is at:

Blk K, Level 2, LT K2,

School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic

180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, Singapore 569830

Those interested in attending the Career Preview can register with Ms Karen Siew via email: karen_siew@nyp.gov.sg or tel: 6550 0097.

8. What is the manpower situation of the nursing profession in Singapore?

There are 19,329 nurses in Singapore of which 15,334 are actively practicing.  About 77% of nurses are Singaporeans. 23% are foreigners.